Saturday.blog
The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, December 11, 2004
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
St. Damasus I, pope
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 48:1-4,9-11
Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
Matthew 17:10-13
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
Elijah the Prophet is praised in the first reading today from Sirach. And what a towering figure he is! He showed incredible courage in speaking to kings, such as Ahab; he a formidable foe of falsehood, as is seen in his victory over the prophets of Baal; he was a healer and miracle worker as seen in his kindness to the widow who had given him to eat of the last food she had in her house. Going to heaven in a fiery chariot started the rumor that he would come back down to earth before the Messiah would come. How remarkable that he did appear with Jesus and Moses at the Transfiguration! And he certainly was present in the preaching of John the Baptist.
As Elijah passed on his mantle to Elisha, so too Jesus passes on His mantle to us in the form of our baptismal commissioning. Do we recognize the seriousness of our office? We were anointed priest, prophet, and king with holy chrism. So we have the power. How do we use our gift? We are called in this critical time to be bolder with our use of the gift.
Jesus, forgive my negligence in opposing injustice. Inspire me with discernment to know when and how I am to act. There are more people waiting and listening for a Word than we realize. The mantle is on our shoulders.
- Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)
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